Paul Hunter Zaid #13

Oh how I do Love the Rain...

     I love a rainy day such as it is today! When I heard of the upcoming rainy day I immediately thought of my personal calender and my to-do's and I was happy to see the rainy day would occur on one of my slow days:) I've always enjoyed a rainy day, my favorite thing to do is be at home and enjoy the comfort of being at home. Today I awoke as I wished, enjoyed the quietness and calmness of my morning with my usual music videos on. My latest thing is to listen to music in the morning, I used to watch the morning news, however, I realized that made me feel frustrated with the always negative portrayal of news. At this point I made coffee and enjoyed my favorite time of the day-coffee time! I absolutely love coffee and the ritual of drinking it. I sipped my coffee and played some online casino games. After that I ventured off to my one class of the day, and then ran a few errands in the rain, ick. I was so happy to return to my sanctuary of my home, from there I watched Turner Classic Movies Channel while I sipped on some soup, following this was an afternoon nap with classical music on and the soft background sound of falling rain. It was simply heaven! 

     I feel most of society is caught up in the hectic pace of daily life and many forget to stop and enjoy the simple things, such as a rainy day. I could see the frustration of fellow New Yorkers today as they were dealing with the rain. I felt like I was the only person enjoying the beauty, relaxation, and wonderment of the rain. This thought reaffirms my notion of the concept that I'm an "old soul." I've always enjoyed the simple things in life and have enjoyed this way of life. It's my only hope to push forward and carve the path to my own personal success, and I know that I will have many rainy days ahead and for that notion I thank rain.

Ximena, 10

I can't remember who's paper we were work-shopping but we were at the terrace and while we were discussing it, I looked down and saw an ant making its way on a crack of a red tile. The combination of both scenes provoked a bit of an existentialist crisis that although I tried to suppress it stayed on my mind long enough to dedicate a post to.

Somehow, every time we look at an article, essay, classmate's paper, or documentary a bunch of thoughts about humanity overwhelm me and result in an episode of existentialism.

While I looked at the ant walking across the tile I wondered if it was on its way to English class and if maybe they would be having class out here on the terrace, like us. Of course this thought is as sillier as the last but I could not help but imagine that. Then I wondered if there are greater beings, something like a god of some sort, looking at us like I looked at the ant. It occurred to me that we must look insignificant and almost humorous from a higher level like I looked at the ant. Then I thought about how nature, in this case the ant, continues its path despite of us humans. The ant did not care we were holding a workshop. It struck me how we really are part of something greater. I suppressed my thoughts as soon as possible and commented on the paper we were reading… all in an attempt to put that stressing scene in the past.

Gabriella Grimes Entry #11

The Darwin documentary we watched in the last class was actually much more interesting than I thought it would be, and I'm actually sure I've seen either the whole film or many snippets of it previously. I thought it did a very good job of representing both sides of the argument but I couldn't help but to notice how the Evolutionists spoke VS. the Creationists. The former were stating mostly facts and not so much personal ideologies, where as the latter were doing mostly the opposite, and I think this says something about who believes in certain things. More "logical" people who think in facts are usually the people I've encountered who believe in Evolution, whereas people who think with their emotions are usually those who believe in Creationism. There's really no real answer as to which of these is fact because humans only know so much. For all we know both of these things could be fact, which I would really enjoy to be true. There seems to be an idea that religion and science cannot work hand in hand--it's either one or the other and you have to choose. My older brother always said he believed in God, yet he is the most technical person I know. He'll pull apart a computer and put it back together and list facts about random things nobody really cares about, but he has a sense of spirituality. I honestly feel that's the best way a person can be. There's nothing wrong with taking either side of the argument, but I do strongly believe that humans should remain open to the possibilities. There's a very funny sketch by Louis C.K. in which he says that people who are absolutely sure that there is not a God should basically think that over; he jokes that an Atheist tells him they do not believe in God because they have never seen him, he asks them if they're sure and if they, "checked downstairs."

I think faith is an important part of the human experience and that everyone, whether they want to admit it or not, believes in something or really wants to. There's nothing wrong with being a scientist who believes in God or a Christian who really enjoys learning about dinosaurs. An open mind is the best thing for everyone, and as long as we are not physically or mentally harming others in our pursuit of the truth or the meaning of this all, we should be allowed to believe in anything we please. I for one am not sure if there is a God; I'm not sure if Evolution is the reality of how mankind came to be or Creationism is, but in the short span of time I have in the indefinite length of time the universe has and will ever exist, I can only attempt to understand. I want to believe that God created science for man to understand more about who we are, and I want to believe that one day there won't be an "Evolution VS Creationism" debate, but rather an understanding among humankind that neither of these things are important enough to separate us and help us grow and advance in every possible way.

Ximena, 9

Our class has got to be the coolest in hunter college. We've held two classes outside of the regular, bland, humid, windowless and extremely depressing classroom and what a treat it has been. How refreshing, literally & metaphorically speaking, it was to hold our workshops outside. I've had a handfull of courses in the C-level of Hunter North and in every class there was at least a minutes wasted of the class time complaining about how hot/cold/humid/uncomfortable and crowded the space felt. Our rooms are small... the humming of the vents and florescent lights set the perfect mood for a bad insane asylum movie in which none of the patients are actually crazy but are expected to act civilized and be knowledgeable.

I'm not about to offer a solution to fix the mundane classrooms we learn in... It is more of a rant and a praise to how progressive our experience was. Paul kind of already spoke about how different both experiences where and I could not agree more. I have to admit I was a little nervous because the city is so noisy. the first thing that came to mind was AIR POLLUTION! Noise pollution aside from harming our hearing, also affects our fight or flight response; the physiological response and shock to our nervous system caused by loud noises. An exceeded amount of these reactions causes cardiovascular damage according to A.J. Jacobs' TED talk about healthy living. New York City probably never sleeps because of all the noise, how were we supposed to hold a lesson outside....

Now,  I'm really looking forward for the next class at the terrace or the park. Really excited because it was so fun to change things up.

Jacek 9

I've been thinking about the documentary that we saw on Thursday, and trying to understand what is going on below the surface of the conflict depicted there. Plainly, its not just verbal, so it makes sense to ask: what exactly is at stake here? Here I think we need to ask about what exactly are religion and science, their roles in our lives, and the differences between them. One significant difference seems to be that the religion depicted in the film provides a set of values, a way of life, and a way of dealing with life, whereas science does not. So perhaps the conflict on one level is about this.

Narmada Gobin, entry #11

Today

BY BILLY COLLINS

If ever there were a spring day so perfect,

so uplifted by a warm intermittent breeze

that it made you want to throw

open all the windows in the house

and unlatch the door to the canary's cage,

indeed, rip the little door from its jamb,

a day when the cool brick paths

and the garden bursting with peonies

seemed so etched in sunlight

that you felt like taking

a hammer to the glass paperweight

on the living room end table,

releasing the inhabitants

from their snow-covered cottage

so they could walk out,

holding hands and squinting

into this larger dome of blue and white,

well, today is just that kind of day.

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poem/30034

Abdul Moontarin Entry#10

As I was writing my second essay for the class last week i couldn't help but think about my time there in Bangladesh again. When I work shopped my draft for the essay I was advised to go more in detail with what I was stating. So I decided to revisit my trip there in Bangladesh. I started looking at videos I recorded over there, and started looking at the pictures i took.  Then slowly these vivid images of the village i was staying at appeared in my head. I was able to see these long coconut trees the size of a building you would see in Manhattan in my head. I also started to see an area that has nothing but tall trees, grass, and wild animals. I started to think back on the adventures I had with my cousin where we used to play soccer in the rain and climb trees to obtain fruits. Also i was able to picture the bright stars in the sky shinning back at me and the relaxing calm walks on the beach. It's surprising how this one event was able to open my eyes to look at nature in a more positive way.

Laura Mulhearn #12

Death, Birth, Life, the After Life ,Birth, Life, Death, The After  Life, Birth ,Life,Death, The After Life,Birth, Life,Death,The After Life, Birth,Life Death, The After Life, Birth,Life ,Death, The After Life, Birth, Life ,Death, The After Life, Birth, Life ,Death, The After life, Birth, Life, Death, The After Life, Birth, Life, Death, the After Life, Birth

Death, Birth, Life, the After Life ,Birth, Life, Death, The After  Life, Birth ,Life,Death, The After Life,Birth, Life,Death,The After Life, Birth,Life Death, The After Life, Birth,Life ,Death, The After Life, Birth, Life ,Death, The After Life, Birth, Life ,Death, The After life, Birth, Life, Death, The After Life, Birth, Life, Death, the After Life, Birth

Death, Birth, Life, the After Life ,Birth, Life, Death, The After  Life, Birth ,Life,Death, The After Life,Birth, Life,Death,The After Life, Birth,Life Death, The After Life, Birth,Life ,Death, The After Life, Birth, Life ,Death, The After Life, Birth, Life ,Death, The After life, Birth, Life, Death, The After Life, Birth, Life, Death, the After Life, Birth

Death, Birth, Life, the After Life ,Birth, Life, Death, The After  Life, Birth ,Life,Death, The After Life,Birth, Life,Death,The After Life, Birth,Life Death, The After Life, Birth,Life ,Death, The After Life, Birth, Life ,Death, The After Life, Birth, Life ,Death, The After life, Birth, Life, Death, The After Life, Birth, Life, Death, the After Life, Birth

Death, Birth, Life, the After Life ,Birth, Life, Death, The After  Life, Birth ,Life,Death, The After Life,Birth, Life,Death,The After Life, Birth,Life Death, The After Life, Birth,Life ,Death, The After Life, Birth, Life ,Death, The After Life, Birth, Life ,Death, The After life, Birth, Life, Death, The After Life, Birth, Life, Death, the After Life, Birth

WE NEED TO BE COMMERCIAL TO SURVIVE TODAY WITHOUT HURTING OUR ENVIRONMENTS FOR MANKIND TO SURVIVE

Gabriella Grimes Entry #10

On a much lighter note, the introduction of nicer weather means the introduction of NYC streetfairs again. I discovered them last year from a very friendly woman who spends much of her time in Burger King gossiping with friends, and I am forever grateful I did. The fairs always stretch from three blocks up to ten or even twelve blocks from the spring to the summer, every weekend. The detours buses and all drivers in general have to take are a bit annoying, but it's fabulous for everyone who decides to attend the fairs. There are a plethora of stalls to stop in and sometimes they give things away. Honestly you can get some pretty sweet deals including kettle corn for $6 (haha see what I did there?) I went to one yesterday for the first time since August of 2013 and despite it raining for most of the time I was outside, I completely enjoyed it. There were so many people walking around and enjoying the idea of shopping outside. It's an incredible idea once you think about it. People don't have to pay for electricity or a large space for retail: they pay a fee to set up a stall every year and even the the food stands use grills a lot so it's not an issue for them either. It's almost much more comforting seeing them prepare your food right in front of you because we've all heard restaurant horror stories or found hair in our food at least once. There's really just a very different atmosphere at the streetfairs than at regular stores. I like the idea of inspecting tiny porcelain animals via natural light than artificial. Hopefully the weather this year permits many more of the streetfairs to occur on a weekly basis and I won't have to go inside a stuffy store which refuses to crack open a window for an overpriced t-shirt. 

Laura Mulhearn #11

http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20130328/east-harlem/east-harlem-filmmaker-turns-lens-on-gentrification?gclid=CPGt5a-Igb4CFc1j7Aod6j0Anw


Gentrification in East Harlem is an awesome article. Please check out this documentary. the city environment is changing at a rapid pace. This is something that reflects what is happening in our environment today.

Gabriella Grimes Entry #9

It's been Spring for over a month yet it hasn't been Spring for over a month. I keep asking myself if Spring has always been this cold in the beginning, but it definitely hasn't. Around this time of the year, I'm already usually walking around without a jacket and just a small sweater will do the trick. The weather is insane lately, with nearly 70° temperatures one day and then 40° the next. The older I get, the colder Winter and Spring seem, yet the more brutally hot Summer seems, and that weather seems to carry into Fall. During the Fall semester, I was pretty much coming to classes without a jacket for a while, but then all of a sudden, it was too cold to step outside my apartment without a coat on. It's such an issue that everyone sees our environment changing in terms of temperature, but so many of us still want to believe it isn't a problem. I have to wonder if it's worse to admit there's a problem and do nothing about it, or just completely deny that the problem exists to begin with. I try to remain aware of my surroundings in the natural world--I don't litter, I recycle, and I try not to keep the water running or the lights on; but if I'm not actively doing something to raise awareness of the issue does that make me as bad as those who try their hardest to remain ignorant? The truth is that the majority of people who know and understand fully that there has to be drastic changes in our environment are entirely passive about it. What I understand to be some of the perspectives of people in my generation is that the older generations have set us up for this--it's as if they dug up a ditch and decided to throw us in there and then have the audacity to ask why we're not doing anything to get out of the ditch. The people who dug this ditch are the same people who still have the most influence in our world today: 60 year-old CEOs of major companies with large carbon footprints and 65 year-old political officials under the impression that it's still the 1970s and the internet doesn't exist. Our awareness of the atrocities going on in the environment could have possibly increased over the past decade, yet we do nothing to stop it. One percent of the population trying to actively make a difference will not make a difference, and if we see that person isn't achieving anything we assume we can't achieve anything ourselves; however at the same time, if we see our neighbor not making any effort, we may do the exact same. I hate to say I'm one of those people. Obviously if a large percentage of the population is not foaming at the mouth over the issue, it can't be that big of a deal, right? Ignorance is complete bliss, and I realize this every time I tell myself that this crazy weather will only happen this year. "It's a one time thing," I'll say passively for the next sixty years.

Laura Mulhearn #10

Writer's Block on Blogging
I HAVE A RIGHT TO WRITE


I learned from my theatre teacher mentor that writer's block is evaluation before the fact. The writer is evaluating what he is going to write instead of just writing something. I ran into writer's block on this blog posting extravaganza. Is anyone reading this? What do people care to read about? We all have something to say, Who will listen?What does it matter if I speak?I can't analyze text because it's someone elses'

writing. Only they know how to really analyze it. I can't question what L.Ron Hubbard writes because he writes the truth and everything he writes about works. I had this problem to be the analyst. Now, I feel I can analyze because this shows that I can formulate an opinion. L.Ron Hubbard says that what is true for you is what you observe yourself. This is true. So I need to write. I have a right to write. Laura says, "Write, write, write" and free yourself.

Laura Mulhearn #9

I believe that in the end we are all responsible for our environment. This world has been created and it is our responsibility to maintain it so mankind can live and the future of mankind can be sustained. I appreciate the different views of creation and I believe that Darwin help us with his theories and his questions. Each one of us can help the environment with recycling and bringing compost to our local farms. There is a farm in Queens where you can drop off your compost.
See this link:
.http://www.queensfarm.org/You can also volunteer and get a discount on organic vegetables and eggs.

Learning this has made me more aware of my surroundings and how I can help the environment in the present.

Paul Hunter Zaid #12

Jesus, Darwin, and Coffee...

     Sipping my morning coffee and reflecting on the documentary that we watched this past week in class. As soon as the documentary started I was thrown aback by the talk of religion, church, and Jesus. I consider myself a spiritual person, yet I will honestly say I don't know if I believe in God. I'm a scientific person who needs to see and hear concrete evidence in order to believe in something. I've always questioned religion even while growing up and attending Catholic mass every Sunday of my life till the age of 20. My issue with Catholicism is that in my personal experience I was never actually informed of how or why the beliefs existed,  just told this is the churches' viewpoint and tradition. I will say that in my catechism studies I was taught and instilled with knowledge and skills of how to be a "good" person.

     I will confidently admit that I feel that everyone has the right to believe and practice what they believe in, however, please don't preach or talk down to those who don't practice or agree with your own beliefs and religion. The documentary presented both sides of the debate of God and Darwinism, and viewing this with an open mind allowed me to respect and feel compassion for both parties. How can I put down a person who has suffered so much at the hand of other undeserving humans and who's life is a complete and utter challenge just to survive? If a person can find a source of inspiration, solace, and belief in something and it brings them closer to accepting and moving forward with their situation then so be it. 

     Personally, I believe all of my questions will be answered when I die and hopefully it's the after life that I dream of-being surrounded by true friends and family, reliving great and wonderful memories, and of course gambling with a cocktail and cigarette in my hand at the big casino in the sky. Silly, I know, but that's how I want my after life to be, and whatever you or anyone else wants their after life to be then believe it, I feel the after life is what each person wants it to be and thus it will be:)

Paul Hunter Zaid #11

Spring Break Part Deux

     Part of living in rural Minnesota is being so close and in touch with nature, agriculture, and animals. I stopped by the zoo of Alexander Ramsey Park in my hometown of Redwood Falls, MN. It's the largest city park in the state of Minnesota with a small zoo, it's a great place to see animals such as Buffalo up close. 

Another common sight in Minnesota are large swine and poultry barns, these large barns dot the rural landscape and are a reminder of how strong agriculture is to the state, as well as a reminder to one where our food comes from. 

The home of pork chops!

Growing up on a farm we always had barn/yard cats-we never knew where they came from. Yet, they lived in the barn and always keep a control on the mice. Of course as a kid I always tried to catch one, and of course I even succeeded many times:)

Another common fixture is the old abandoned farmhouse. I remember as a child when an old man lived in this house, it's been abandoned for nearly 30 years now. Sixteen years ago I remember exploring this house, it was both creepy and exciting to think of the history of this home and its inhabitants. 

What I miss the most about Minnesota is the wide open space of the country. The openness and vastness gives one the opposite feeling than that of being in Manhattan. I used to dislike the open country, after living in NYC for 2 years I totally miss it! I would never have guessed I would think or feel that way. 

The cluster of trees to the left is my parent's farm site.

Paul Hunter Zaid #10

Spring Break 2014

     Most people venture off to an exotic locale with beaches, sunshine, and fun in the sun, however, I chose to visit my family back in rural Minnesota. Some of my classmates may or may not have heard me say that I grew up in Redwood Falls, MN-population just shy of 5,000. I grew up on a farm 9 miles north of Redwood Falls located in the lower southwestern part of the state. Growing up in a rural setting had it's pros and cons, but none of which I would trade for anything. Going back to visit my hometown, family, and friends brought back great memories...it reminded me of what's important and who I am. I chose to do a picture blog to show everyone exactly where I came from in hopes that my classmates in New York City may get a glimpse of the country that they may otherwise never get to experience with their own eyes. Also, it's my hope to give you all just a tiny glimpse of the beauty and remoteness of living in rural Minnesota that has shaped me into the person I am.

Baa from Minnesota:)

 

                                                                           

Driveway to my parent's home that I used to walk to catch the school bus.

The home where I grew up and where my father grew up.

 

 

The Barn where I remember playing in the hayloft, Yes, I really did that!

 

 

 

 

 

Like true Minnesota fashion it snowed 3 inches April 15th!

I was just loving the sky this day.

 

I literally grew up surrounded by crop fields.

 

 

That's alot of country!

Yevgeniy Kotlovskiy #4

I just came from Copenhagen where everything is beautiful and no one sneezes. Never have I walked the streets in the embrace of nice faces as the interim of my mean time. Traveling to one library known as the Black Diamond(A perfectly acceptable night club name!) and was really enthused about this library in particular. The architect actually caught my eye, everything was very modern and intricate. A display of socialistic prowess? Sure. What really interested me though, was how much time I realized flew by as I had read up on my favorite writer Soren Kierkegaard. I had the tranquility of not understanding what most people were talking about, but coming to the source of my writing and thinking inspiration was empowering and gracing. I now have a certain light to my step and a vibe that remedies my soul from the American truths.

Narmada Gobin, entry #10

It's a beautiful Sunday morning today. It's about 52 degrees and it's not too cold or hot. It's perfect and this is the type of weather I would prefer for the whole year. I am sitting on my front steps finishing up my paper. I look like a total bum with my bright purple robe, grey shorts and striped t-shirt. I really don't care how I look because I am out here to be comfortable and enjoy this weather. The sun is pretty strong and burning a little bit. I hope I don't get a tan because I have been out here for a while. It's too early to be tanning. There's a bee out here bothering the hell out of me (LOL). I can see the trees starting to bloom leaves again. They look so dry and out of life. I guess the worst thing about trees and flowers started to bloom again would be the pollen. I have such bad allergies. I am sneezing left and right when I don't take Clartian or Zyrtex. This week hasn't been the best weather for spring break in New York because it was pretty cold. I was wearing my winter jacket in the beginning of the week to go to work. It sucked but the weather has been getting warmer and sunnier so I am glad for that. I mean it actually snowed Tuesday morning I believed. At least it's weather to wear dressed and lighter jackets and I hope it stays this way. I needed this break from school even I had tons of papers to write. It flew by but I am glad I had some time off.

Abdul Moontarin entry #9

The weather is beautiful this week in New York. Yesterday, I decided to take my skateboard after 5 years and just ride around. Didn't think it would feel so relaxing. As I was riding down my local hill the wind starting rush through my hair and honestly it was the best feeling ever. I noticed how I missed skating so much. I really never learned how to do tricks but that didn't bother me. I just loved riding it. When I ride around my neighborhood with my skateboard I notice so many things. I get to appreciate how everything looks. From the buildings, to the trees. It just makes me appreciate everything around me even more. I'm definetly skating more this summer. It'll help me explore and look at New York in a better perspective.

KayJoon #6

Today (Sunday), I was in midtown with my parents and we remembered the flower show was going on at Macy’s, so we decided to drop by and check it out. Overall, it was pretty incredible, but I’m not going to spend a whole blog-post pretending to be a botanist; I appreciate the natural beauty of flowers and flower arranging is definitely a talent I admire, I would actually like to share my thoughts. Firstly, I think it’s awesome that a smidge of the wild is brought to NYC every year through a big name corporation, ironic, but awesome. While there are a few botanical gardens and parks around the city, our eyes don’t always get the chance to experience the beauty of other places unless we go to other places. I walked around the entire store thinking about how great it all was and how lucky we are even when we’re unlucky with living in a big, gray, city and then I heard that after the showcase period is over, all of the flowers get thrown out. Did that make me appreciate the flowers any less? No. But, did I somehow feel immoral smelling dying flowers that were on display in a store unnecessarily? Yes. Of course, these flowers were going to die anyway, but growing them for this purpose and forcing chemicals on to them to in order to last and, just the whole process of it in general seemed like a big waste. But then I got to think-who is all this for then if not for us to appreciate? Or, is there no ‘who’? It just is?

KayJoon # 5

Today (Saturday) I went for a hike. The weather was in my favor and I was visiting a friend away from the city anyway so I thought why not do a little exploring. I went to the Stateline lookout point in New Jersey, and in the photo I took; I’m looking back out at New York. It was a magnificent view-for the most part. I don’t want to take away from the day I was grateful to have, but let’s notice a few things in this photo. First, the color of the water. This is the Hudson River and what I know it as is brown murky-ness, while there’s a bit of a blue reflection from the sky, this water is no where near as vibrant as it could be. As I ventured out on one of the trails, I got bored, so I wondered a little off trail and closer to the ridge. I was excited and felt special that no one else would be around, but of course, someone had been there before, and they left their markings behind in articles of trash. I started to pick it up along the way and wished I had brought a few garbage bags and volunteers with me to do a cleanup. Seeing effects that were long put in to place before I got there wasn’t the greatest, but at the same time, I’m only one person-how much could I really do at this point?

Ximena, 8

While running to catch the bus that would take me to class on time I was distracted by two brand new recycling bins on the corner of 82nd Street and 37th Avenue (Jackson Heights). My eyes could not believe it. The garbage is hardly collected from the regular trash cans and now we had recycling tins?! Tall, silver, gorgeous bins one with a green top and the other with a blue top. Which means the chance to recycle cans, glass, bottles and also paper is no available to the people of Jackson Heights! At least those who walk on specific streets. I missed the bus so I just walked the rest of the way to the train station and the story does not stop there... I saw more of those tins all through 82nd Street and along Roosevelt Avenue.
 
I finally got myself to do some research on this and found out that last year Deputy mayor of Operations Caswell Holloway and Sanitation Commissioner John J Doherty reported the distribution of more than 4,000 newly redesigned public space recycling containers. Their design is supposed to be modern and "will better blend into the streetscape," uh one thing is for sure, they stand out. I was on the "Jackson Heights Beautification Group" page and I saw someone posted about seeing the bins as well so they are being noticed. This may be the last wave of bins to be distributed in the five boroughs as the article mentions that the DSNY (The City of New York Department of Sanitation) will place these on busy/commercial streets in the city up until the beginning of this year.

Lastly, I should mention that the silver bins are Bloomberg's effort to recycle more as a city and have less waste be sent out to landfills outside of the state.

Narmada Gobin, entry #9

I just love how beautiful the weather is gettinge. I can't wait for it to get even more warmer and sunny. It's nice when you can go outside without a jacket or scarf. The cold weather is so annoying. Wearing my sunflower dresses and flip flops are probably the most comfortable outfits you can ever put on. Letting your hair down, painting your nails in bright colors, and putting on fun sun glasses and just going out with your friends is what the warm weather calls for. The cold weather doesn't stop us from going out and being with our loved ones but for one, you can't be out for too long especially since you have to wear layers and layers of clothing. It's nice to go out to the beaches or the pool and relax underneath the sun. I love getting a nice tan even though I am a pretty tan complexion. I love everything about the warmer weather. I enjoy going for picnics and walks in the park. I love going to the west side of manhattan and taking strolls by the Hudson River and walks on the piers. Traveling to other cities is probably a much better trip when the weather is warmer. Dripping sweat is probably the downside of things but I don't mind. Once I can jump into a pool of water and cool off. I can't wait for Summer 2014. Especially since for one month, I will be in Spain.

Gabriella Grimes Entry #8

I think I'm going go along with Paul's entry about going outside for the last class. It's a little funny to me that in all the time spent in an English class with the theme of ecocentrism, we hadn't been outside until the last class and it was actually really fantastic. I saw a few people coming out of their shells even more and talking nonstop. It's just different being in a classroom setting than being outside. The weather was lovely as well which didn't hurt too much. Granted, I would have preferred if I had not chosen to sit down in front of a bush which attacked my hair every time I leaned back too far or the wind blew too hard, but the fresh air cleared my senses. Also it was a huge step up from the grossly warm classroom in the ten century old north building's cellar. I'm very excited and look forward to the trip to central park and it'll be nice to have class in another environment we haven't been in together yet. 

Also, I think it's safe to say spring is here, but the last couple of times I said this I got punched in the face with a dip in the weather. But hope springs eternal. (Get it? Because of spring? Haha I am so sorry.)

Paul Hunter Zaid #9

   InTouch

     My entry for this week is an observation that I made during our class session on the roof deck of Hunter College. In my opinion it was truly the first day of Spring weather-it was glorious! The sun was shining brightly and there was that slight chill in the air that was succumbing to the warmth of the sunshine. At first when I read the email regarding having class on the roof deck I thought to myself, "how would class outside differ from class inside?"
     As soon as our class had started to walk outside there was a slow breakdown of the old familiar classroom barriers, there was the starting of a real connection among our classmates. Next thing we were on the roof and forming our circle to conduct class. The first thing that popped into my head was how this environment would be too distracting with other students talking, the noisy sound of traffic and sirens blaring past on the streets down below. As soon as we started to analyze the essays I was surprised by how I was actually more in tune with the essay! The distractions of the city around me only enhanced the experience of the essays that were being read. I observed that my fellow classmates were more vocal in their opinions regarding the essays, perhaps it was the lack of the setting of a traditional classroom setting? Or the fact that being outside somehow allowed the readers to be immersed into the essays? 
     I'm confident that we each have our own reasoning for this experience. I know for myself that being outside truly made me connect with the essays and that the lack of a classroom setting allowed for me to connect more closely to the essays. So to Professor Bailey I say to you, "Kudos and what a great idea!"